Gameplan
• WATCH
The PGA Championship
Phil is back, and Tiger is trying to avoid his first majorless year since 2004. But if form holds, the world's best won't win at Hazeltine National (TNT and CBS). The highest-ranked winner of a major in '09 is British Open champ Stewart Cink (33rd). This could be the first year the majors are won by sub-30th players.
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Cooperstown Confidential
The Hall of Fame: baseball's Olympus, right? Yes, says Zev Chafets, in that the Greek gods were flawed too. Chafets exposes the hypocrisy of the Hall's character clause, arguing that the shrine is full of criminals and cheaters. Bonds and McGwire will love his plan: Change the selection process and have MLB legalize steroids.
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Track and field worlds
The globe's best will be in Berlin starting on Aug. 15 (NBC and Versus). Rivals Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay will run in the 100 and 200 meters. Another cool moment: Jesse Owens will be honored at Olympic Stadium, where he made history in 1936. His granddaughter will present the long jump medals.
• PLAY
Madden NFL 10
O.K., kids, you've had enough outdoor time this summer—now get back inside and fire up the gaming console! This year's version of Madden (for PlayStation, Xbox and Wii) drops on Friday, with Super Bowl combatants Larry Fitzgerald and Troy Polamalu on the cover. Take note, fantasy players: The Madden curse is real.
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Real Sports
HBO's magazine show, hosted by Bryant Gumbel, airs on Aug. 18 with an exclusive interview with Nick Schuyler, the sole survivor of the February boating accident that killed NFL players Marquis Cooper and Corey Smith. Schuyler, a former college defensive tackle, recounts the ordeal in harrowing detail.
The Pop Culture Grid
Athletes in the mix | Jennifer Aniston should date ... | Favorite childhood possession | Don't mess with me when I'm ... | Song playing on my iPod right now | Eminem and Mariah Carey should ... |
EBONY HOFFMAN Fever F | Her ex, Brad Pitt | My basketball | Hungry | Ego by Beyoncé | Have a conference |
CLAYTON KERSHAW Dodgers P | Dane Cook | A ski cap with a ball on top | Playing Ping-Pong | Anything by Taylor Swift | Let each other alone |
TANISHA WRIGHT Storm G | Matthew McConaughey | Punky Brewster sneakers | Sleepy | Bullet and Target by Citizen Cope | Grow up |
ALAN GORDON Galaxy F | Ross (David Schwimmer) | Fly collection | Dropping off the kids at the pool | All I Need by Radiohead | Hug it out |
Inside the Grid
Eminem's July release of the single The Warning is the latest taunt in his eight-year feud with Carey. In response to Carey's Obsessed video, in which she mocked the rapper, Eminem (above) brags about having an affair with the pop diva. Said Hoffman, "They need some kind of counseling to hash things out."
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ROBERT BECK (CINK)
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JONATHAN BRADY/EPA (BOLT)
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EA SPORTS (GAME)
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ADRIANO FAGUNDES/COURTESY HBO (GUMBEL)
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JEFF KRAVITZ/FILMMAGIC/GETTY IMAGES (EMINEM)
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CHRIS WILLIAMS/ICON SMI (GORDON)
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ROCKY WIDNER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES (WRIGHT)
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JOHN W. MCDONOUGH (KERSHAW)
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RON HOSKINS/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES (HOFFMAN)
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MATT SAYLES/AP (ANISTON)
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GINA HOUSEMAN (IPOD)
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GARY NULL/NBCU PHOTO BANK/AP (SNEAKER)
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